This anonymous interview is with a job hunter who is currently employed (even if part-time or in an unrelated field), has not been hired within the last two months, and has been looking for a new position for a year to 18 months. This person is looking in Academic libraries, Archives, Library vendors/service providers, Public libraries, and Special libraries, at the entry level. This applicant has internship/volunteering experience:

I’ve interned at two locations, but it can be hard to balance getting the skills you need to develop and actually providing the help the institution needs. Prior to library school I volunteered at an organization.

This job hunter is in an urban area in the Northeastern US, and when asked if willing to move said,

What’s your routine for preparing an application packet? How much time do you spend on it?

I add the job to my spreadsheet. I analyze the job listing, and sometimes make a list if the job description/requirements are disorganized (pretty common). I take about 1 hour to write a cover letter, and let it sit awhile before going back to edit it again. I edit my resume if appropriate. If I need references right away, I contact them to let them know.

Have you ever stretched the truth, exaggerated, or lied on your resume, or at some other point during the hiring process?

√ No

When would you like employers to contact you?

√ To acknowledge my application
√ To tell me if I have or have not been selected to move on to the interview stage
√ To follow-up after an interview
√ Once the position has been filled, even if it’s not me

How do you prefer to communicate with potential employers?

√ Phone for good news, email for bad news

Which events during the interview/visit are most important to your assessment of the position (i.e. deciding if you want the job)?

What do you think employers should do to get the best candidates to apply?

Fight for their employees and potential employees to get a good salary and package. Train their entry-level and part-time/temporary staff to potentially be promoted. Consider that potential and experience should be equally weighted.

What should employers do to make the hiring process less painful?

Be supportive. Don’t judge people so much based on attire and appearance or nerves. That doesn’t tell you anything about what kind of employee they might be!

What do you think is the secret to getting hired?

Networking and being a part of the community. To a certain extent getting to the interview stage and then getting hired is like playing the lottery, but this gives you an edge — even if it’s just in your confidence level, because it makes you feel like you belong.

Do you have any comments, or are there any other questions you think we should add to this survey?